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Sunday, May 12, 2019

at 10 a.m. in Mertens Theater

Acupuncture

Dental Hygiene (Graduate)

Nutrition

Physician Assistant

Chiropractic

Naturopathic Medicine

Health Sciences (Doctorate)

Commencement is a truly joyous occasion; it is a day of celebration that represents the culmination of years of intellectual fortitude, intense focus, and countless cups of coffee. It is an opportunity for family, friends, and the many faculty and staff at the University of Bridgeport to applaud our graduates for their accomplishments.

The Health Sciences Commencement ceremony will take place in Mertens Theater.

Commencement Speaker

Tracy W. Gaudet, MD

Dr. Tracy W. Gaudet, is Executive Director of the Veterans Health Administration’s National Office of Patient Centered Care and Cultural Transformation. This Office is charged with leading VHA’s transformation to Whole Health, an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and live their life to the fullest.

Dr. Gaudet came to the VA from Duke University Health System, where she served as Executive Director of Duke Integrative Medicine until 2010. Under her leadership, Duke Integrative Medicine created a state-of-the-art healthcare facility dedicated to the transformation of medicine through the exploration, demonstration, and research of new models of patient-centered care. Prior to her work at Duke, Dr. Gaudet was the founding Executive Director of the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine, leading the design of the country’s first comprehensive curriculum in this new field. In addition, Dr. Gaudet co-founded the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine.

A recognized leader in the transformation of healthcare, she speaks nationally in public and professional venues. Dr. Gaudet graduated from Duke University School of Medicine and is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology.

Ticketing

As the Health Sciences ceremony is scheduled to take place indoors in the Mertens Theater we do have a ticketing policy. Each commencement participant will be allowed four (4) tickets to the ceremony for their guests. Program directors will distribute tickets to each participant. Online students will have their tickets mailed to them by program directors. Each graduating candidate must pick up their own tickets. Students who will not use the full amount of four (4) tickets may negotiate with other students who need additional tickets for the ceremony. The Health Sciences Commencement has a ticket limit due to its indoor location and we must abide by strict occupancy limits to ensure public safety during this assembly. This ticket limit is based upon the number of commencement participants and the remaining seats in Mertens Theater being equally divided. If your guaranteed commencement tickets are not picked up or reserved with your program director they will be redistributed to other candidates and no longer available. The unclaimed tickets will be available on a first come, first serve basis after May 3, 2019 until May 6, 2019. Please email your request to ubcommencement@bridgeport.edu (up to four additional tickets per student).

The Health Sciences Ceremony will be simulcast in the Jeanne and Henry W. Littlefield Recital Hall in the Arnold Bernhard Center. A separate ticket is required for admittance. These tickets will become available after all the tickets for the Mertens Theater have been distributed. Tickets will be available on a first come first served basis after May 3, 2019. Please email ubcommencement@bridgeport.edu your request for live stream tickets (up to four tickets per person) between May 6 – 8, 2019.

The live video stream for the Health Sciences Commencement will begin on Sunday, May 12, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. ALL GUESTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A TICKET, including children.

Students may pick up their academic regalia at the campus bookstore beginning May 6, 2019 and throughout Grad Week, May 13-17, 2019.

Bookstore Hours

Day

Dates

Time

Monday

May 6 & 13

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Tuesday

May 7 & 14

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Wednesday

May 8 & 15

9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Thursday

May 9 & 16

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Friday

May 10 & 17

9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Please coordinate with the bookstore about delivery options for those students who are unable to return to campus prior to the ceremony.

Commencement Ceremony

All graduation candidates must have a Commencement Reader Card for the announcement of their name at the Ceremony. Please complete the card in full. Island Photo will also use this information for your photo for which you are under no obligation to purchase. For correct pronunciation of your name, please legibly record the correct phonetic pronunciation of your name on the line provided. If you do not provide this information, your name may not be pronounced correctly.

Commencement Schedule

8:30 a.m.

Arrival/Assembly time... BE ON TIME!

9:40 a.m.

All candidates must be assembled with their School/Institute in alphabetical or reverse alphabetical order in Room 113 of the Arnold Bernhard Arts and Humanities Center.

9:45 a.m.

Candidates will begin their processional.

10:00 a.m.

Main Ceremony begins.

11:15 a.m.

Conclusion of Ceremony, Recessional.

11:15 a.m.

Health Sciences Reception - Plaza in the Arnold Bernhard Center

Assembly

Only graduate candidates are permitted in the assembly area. Marshal/Commencement Aides for each School and Institute will be in Room 113 to instruct candidates. Line-up will be by School and Institute, alphabetically or reverse alphabetically. All directions are to the audience’s left and right (these directions are as if you were seated in your respective row and looking straight at the stage). If you have not already received your honor cords, these will be distributed by your program director (or designee) in Room 113.

All candidates will be lined up promptly at 9:40 am in the assembly area and will enter the theater by 10:00a.m. When the music begins, each School and Institute will be led by Faculty Marshals for their respective School/Institute.

Academic Ceremony

All directions are audience RIGHT & LEFT

Flag bearers will lead commencement candidates single file into the Theater in two lines followed by the Faculty that is divided into two equal lines, and the stage party. Please fill each row completely before starting a new row regardless if you are starting a new school or not. The rows are as follows:

Row A - 28 seats

Row B - 30 seats

Row C - 31 seats

Row D - 34 seats

Row E - 33 seats

Row F - 34 seats

AMERICAN FLAG - LEFT AISLE

UB FLAG - RIGHT AISLE

(Alphabetical Order A-Z)

(Reverse Alphabetical Order Z-A)

Acupuncture Institute – Row A

School of Chiropractic – Row D

Nutrition Institute – Row A

School of Health Professions – Row D

Physician Assistant Institute – Row B

School of Naturopathic Medicine – Row E and F

Fones School of Dental Hygiene – Row C

Faculty – Rows F & G

Stage Party

CANDIDATES ARE TO REMAIN STANDING UNTIL THE STAGE PARTY IS SEATED

Ceremony Instructions

Schools/Institutes will be called up to the stage in the following order: Acupuncture Institute, Nutrition Institute, Physician Assistant Institute, Fones School of Dental Hygiene, School of Chiropractic, School of Health Professions, and School of Naturopathic Medicine. Candidates will be asked to exit their seats, ten (10) at a time, into the right aisle and stand close to the wall. The first candidate will proceed to the top of the stage steps. The next candidate will wait at the bottom of the steps. One candidate at a time will proceed onto the stage. Students receiving combined degrees will only bring their hood to the stage for their highest degree. As their name is announced, stop for hooding by the director, proceed to the middle of the stage, shake hands with President Trombley and receive their diploma case at the center podium, proceed to the left steps, exit off stage steps. Stop for photo at bottom of steps. Each School/Institute will line up on apron of Stage (right in front of stage to recite their oath.) After the Oaths, return immediately to seats. If you are receiving more than one degree you will walk across the stage for each degree that you will be receiving. All candidates will be hooded once.

Recessional

At the conclusion of the ceremony the recessional is in reverse order of the processional; Stage party, faculty then students. Please exit into the lobby to meet guests.

STAGE PARTY

FACULTY

LEFT AISLE

RIGHT AISLE

Acupuncture Institute

School of Chiropractic

Nutrition Institute

School of Health Professions

School of Naturopathic Medicine

Physician Assistant Institute

Fones School of Dental Hygiene

Important Considerations

While this is a joyous and celebratory occasion, we ask that you respect others around you and keep these guidelines in mind:

Participants will not be allowed to wear any item that is flashing or has lights/reflective surfaces as it will likely interfere with our livestream feed

Families should refrain from using large signs and loud noises throughout the duration of the ceremony as this could distract others from seeing their own commencement participant. PLEASE CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY AND RESPECTFULLY.

No weapons or alcohol will be allowed on campus. Guests and participants who appear intoxicated will be escorted off premises.

Only the graduate will be allowed to walk across the stage during the Commencement Ceremony. Children or other guests, will not be permitted on stage for safety and liability reasons.

Smoking/Alcohol—Smoking is strictly prohibited except for designated outdoor locations. Alcohol may not be brought into Mertens Theater.